# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S505
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 5389

WuereaS, No one appeared before our Committee to give the
necessary and desired information regarding the division of said
District; and

WuereEas, This is tantamount to imposing upon Synod the im-
possibility of acting with discretion and consideration in this
matter; therefore be it

Resolved, That we request full information at the next con-
vention.
Concerning Censorship in Synod

(Memorial 522)

St. Matthew Lutheran Church and Jehovah Lutheran Church,
Detroit, Mich., herewith petition The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod to amend Section 6.163, paragraph “a,” of the By-Laws of
Synod to read as follows:

“a. The President and Vice-Presidents of Synod shall be
Synod’s official doctrinal censor of all manuscripts of a religious
or theological nature before they are published by Synod or any of
its agencies. The President and Vice-Presidents together may
delegate the carrying out of this paragraph to any agency which
they may appoint for that purpose, but the responsibility shall
remain with the President and the Vice-Presidents.”

And that Section 6.163, paragraph “b,” be amended to read
as follows:

“b. The Lutheran Witness and Der Lutheraner shall be the
official organs of Synod and shall be under the responsible editor-
ship of the President and Vice-Presidents, who shall appoint, and
may terminate the appointment. of, the editors or the editorial
committee.”

We feel that since the President and Vice-Presidents of Synod
are held responsible for the doctrine and practice of Synod, they
should be empowered to administer the right of censorship over all
official publications of Synod, that this right or authority should not
be vested in any group or body not directly elected by or respon-
sible to Synod.

The present system of censorship and appointment of the editors
and editorial committees is neither wise nor truly democratic. We
believe that this right and authority properly belongs to the
responsible administrators of Synod, namely, the President and

Vice-Presidents. St. Marraew Luraeran Caurcn

Cameron A. MacKenzie, Pastor
‘Jenovan LuTHeran CHurcH
I. M. Brackxesuscu, Pastor